Updated: December 2009

One-time Death Benefit $150,000 line-of-duty death benefit to surviving spouse or, if no surviving spouse, to surviving children. Death must have occurred as a direct result of personal injury or illness resulting from any action public safety officer is obligated or authorized to perform. An additional death benefit of $12,000 is paid to the heirs or estate of Public Employees' Retirement Fund. Supplemental Group Life Insurance may also apply if purchased previous to the fatality. Contact: Public Employees' Retirement Fund (PERF) The 1977 Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension and Disability Fund 143 West Market St., Suite 400 Indianapolis, IN 48204-2899 Phone: (317) 233-4162 or (888) 526-1687 Website: www.in.gov/perf (Reference: PERF Handbook, Page 6; Indiana Code 36-8-8-20) Workers' Compensation Workers' compensation does not cover members of municipal fire departments or members of a firefighter pension plan. Indiana Code 36-8-4-5(a) provides care to these firefighters who are injured or made ill by the performance of their duties. This coverage may include medical and surgical care, medicine and laboratory, x-ray and therapeutic services. Spouse, or spouse with children, of firefighter covered by workers compensation receives 66 2/3% of average weekly wage for a maximum of 500 weeks. Spousal benefit terminates upon remarriage at which time spouse receives lump sum of 104 weeks or remainder of payments, whichever is less. Children are eligible if unmarried, under age 21, or if dependent for specified reasons. Volunteer firefighters: Those persons working in a voluntary capacity for a volunteer fire department or ambulance company must be covered by the medical treatment and burial expense provisions of the Workers' Compensation and Occupational Disease Laws. Lost wages and impairment not covered. Contact: Worker's Compensation Board of Indiana 402 W. Washington Street, Room W 196 Indianapolis, IN 48204 (317) 232-3808 Website: www.in.gov/workcomp (Reference: Indiana Code § 22 3-3-19(6) & 22 336(h)) Funeral Benefit Maximum of $7,500 for burial expenses. Contact: Worker's Compensation Board of Indiana 402 W. Washington Street, Room W 196 Indianapolis, IN 48204 (317) 232-3808 Website: www.in.gov/workcomp (Reference: WC code 22-3-3-21) Retirement/Pension Plan Survivors of members of the 1977 Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Fund killed in the line of duty are eligible for pension benefits. Spouses may remarry without losing benefits. Benefit adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index. Surviving spouse is entitled to a monthly benefit equal to 100% of monthly retirement benefit payable for the spouse's lifetime. Spouse receives benefit member would have been entitled to at time of death or that of a member with 20 years' service at age 52. If the member served more than 20 years, the benefit increases by 1% for each six months served. Each surviving child entitled to a monthly benefit equal to 20% of the member's benefit until the child reaches age 18, age 23 if a full-time student, or longer if incapable of self-support. If there is no surviving spouse or eligible children, wholly dependent parent or parents may be entitled to receive 50% of monthly benefit during their lifetime(s). Contact: Public Employees' Retirement Fund (PERF) The 1977 Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension and Disability Fund 143 West Market St., Suite 400 Indianapolis, IN 48204-2899 Phone: (317) 233-4162 or (888) 526-1687 Website: www.in.gov/perf (Reference: POF Pension Fund Handbook on website) Education Benefit - Children Full tuition and other fees waived for children of career and volunteer firefighters at state-supported colleges, technical schools or universities. Must be under 23, the biological or legally adopted child, and a full-time undergraduate or graduate student seeking a degree. Some restrictions may apply. Applies equally to survivors of volunteer firefighters. Contact: CVO Fee Remission Application State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana 150 W. Market Street, Suite 500 Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 232-2350 or (888) 528-4719 Website: www.in.gov/ssaci (Reference: Indiana Code 20-12-19.5-I) Education Benefit - Spouse Requirements the same as for children, except for age restriction. Must have been married to the public safety officer at the time of death. Contact: CVO Fee Remission Application State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana 150 W. Market Street, Suite 550 Indianapolis, IN 48204 (317) 232-2350 or (888) 528-4719 Website: www.in.gov/ssaci (Reference: Indiana Code 20-12-19.5-I) Non-Profit or Private Organizations 100 Club of Indianapolis P.O. Box 306 Indianapolis, IN 48206 Phone: (317) 787-3698 $25,000 group insurance policy per case. Kids' Chance of Indiana 721 East Broadway Fortville, IN 46040 Phone: (317) 485-0043 x 123 Website: www.kidschancein.org Scholarships for children, up to $6,000 per year, whose families have sustained an economic loss. The loss must have been a result of a serious injury or death caused by an accident or injury which has been found to be compensable under Indiana Workers Compensation Law. May be applied to graduate degrees.